Lamp tube handling device



Aug. 27, 196 3 .1. H. THOMAS ETAL 3,101,966 LAMP TUBE HANDLING DEVICEFiled May 24, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 2/ John H. Thomas BY FrankL. Gillespie /Z:' Affol fiy 1963 J. H. THOMAS ETAL 3,101,965

LAMP TUBE I'lANDLING'DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1961iiill'illl'l'la Aug. 27, 1963 J. H. THOMAS ETAL LAMP TUBE HANDLINGDEVICE s Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 24, 1961 INVENTOR. John H. Thomas BYFrank L. Gille pie flu; Arrarney United States Patent Ofifice John Theinvention relates to devices for removing and replacing fiuorescent lamptubes in electrical fixtures which cannot be reached except by a ladderor other elevating means.

An object of the present invention is to provide a lamp tube handlingdevice of the character described which will enable a person standingsafely and securely at floor level to reach lamp tubes in fixtures athigh positions which are frequently relatively inaccessible with aladder or the like, particularly when located over counters or displayareas, and which will provide an improved positive grip of much greatersecurity than devices heretofore available whereby the user may with aminimum of special knowledge or skill easily handle and properlymanipulate and position long fluorescent lamp tubes for insertion. intoor removal from remote elevated lamp fixtures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lamp tubehandling device of the character above which may be easily andconveniently extended in length to reach lamp tubes at different heightsabove the floor and which may also be simply and quickly adjusted toproperly engage and handle lamp tubes of different sizes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a lamp tubehandling device of the character above which is formed of a minimumnumber of sturdy parts to provide a durable and trouble-free device andwhich are constructed and assembled in a manner providing protectionfrom the hazard of electrical shock.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich of the foregoing will be set forth in the following description ofthe preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of this specification. It is to beunderstood, however, that variations in the showing made by the saiddrawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the ventionas set forth in the claims. Referring to said drawings (3 sheets):

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the lamp tube handling deviceconstructed in accordance with the present invention and shown inoperative relation with a lamp in a fixture.

FIGURE 2 is a handling device in FIGURE 3 is a broken away.

FIGURE 4 is a partial plan view of the device shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a partial cross sectional view on an enlarged scale takensubstantially on the plane of line 5-5.

FIGURE 6 is a cross section of the device as taken substantially on theplanes of lines 66 in FIGURES 3 and 5 FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary crosssection of shown in FIGURE 3 taken sition.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vice shown in FIGURE 7 but position.

The lamp tube handling device of the present invention consists brieflyof a pair of jaws 6 and 7 pivotally attached at hinge 42 which carryresilient linings 8 and 9 arranged for closure upon a lamp tube 10, anelongated handle 11 secured to jaw 6, an elongated actuating rod 12carried by the handle 11, and a leverage assembly 15 perspective view ofthe lamp tube position for releasing a tube. plan view of the devicewith portions the device at line 7-7 in the closed pocross section ofthe dewith jaws in the open 3', l ,9 6 6 Patented Aug. 27, 1963connecting rod 12 to jaw 7 whereby on reciprocation of rod 12 openingand closing of jaws 6 and 7 will be effected. It is to be noted, and seeFIGURE 7, that the leverage assembly 15 is especially constructed tomove to an over-center stopped position upon movement of jaws 6 and 7 toa closed position. When the leverage assembly is in the over-centerposition, and the bulb 10 is clasped by jaws 6 and 7, a force applied tojaws 6 and 7 will not open the jaws so as to release bulb 10. Forceapplied to the actuating rod, however, will always open or close jaws 6and 7.

The over center stopped and non-reversible operating characteristic ofthe present invention as noted above is provided by the uniqueconstruction of the leverage assembly 15 which is shown in detail inFIGURES 7 and 8. The leverage assembly 15 is composed of a bell crank 13having a mid-portion 14 pivotally supported at pin 40 by wing portion ofbracket 33 on handle 11 and having a pair of arms 16 and 17. Arm 16 ispivoted by pin 36 to the normally upper end 34 of rod 12, arm 17 ispivoted by pin 31 to one end 44 of link 18 which is in turn pivotallysecured by pin 41 at its opposite end 46 to bracket 47 connected to jaw7. Stop means may be provided by forming link 18 in the shape of achannel with a bottom side 19 which is positioned to come in contactwith arm 17 of the bell crank when jaws 6 and 7 are in the closedposition and the leverage assembly has moved to an overcenter position.

FIGURE 8 shows the position of the actuating rod 12, bell crank 13 andlink 18 when the jaws 6 and 7 are in the open position. To close thejaws 6 and 7, rod 12 is moved in a relatively downward direction, bellcrank 13 rotates counter-clockwise about pivot pin 39, link 18 rotatesin a generally clockwise direction, and jaw 7 rotates in a counterclockwise direction about hinge 42. Movement of the parts continues asabove until the leverage assembly 15 reaches an over-center stoppedpositions as shown in FIGURE 7 wherein pivot pin 31 has swung past astraight line connecting pivot points 40 and 41.

In this position, jaws 6 and 7 are irreversible from closed position byan opening force applied to the jaws but are reversible uponlongitudinal displacement of rod 12 because a force applied at the jaw 7to impart clockwise or opening movement causes link 18 to rotate in aclockwise direction about pivot pin 31 against the stop 19 whereas anupward movement of rod 12 will open jaws 6 and 7 since bell crank 13 iscaused to move in a clockwise direction about pivot pin 40, and link 18moves in an unimpeded counter-clockwise direction until jaws 6 and 7reach an opened position.

Manual reciprocation of rod 12 is most conveniently arranged to beelfected from the normally lower end 51 of handle 11 so that the jawsmay be readily opened and closed while the device is held in an upwardlyreaching position as depicted in FIGURE 1. As here shown a manuallyengageable sleeve 21 is telescopically mounted around and for slidingreciprocal movement upon the tubular hand end 51 and is opera-tivelyconnected to rod 12. With reference to FIGURES 7 and 8 it will be notedthat sleeve 21 is provided with an internally and centrally extendingpart 22 formed with an axially threaded hub 52 which is threadablyengaged with the lower end 23 of rod 12 which has a length extendingbeyond the lower end 51 of the handle.

The device constructed in accordance with the present invention may be.provided with one or more elongated extension members 24 as bestillustrated in FIGURES 3 to '6 which may be easily and quickly coupledto the standard length handle 11 to enable the operator to reach fromfloor level lamp tubes in fixtures at diiferent heights up to about 24feet or more.

To apply an extension member, sleeve 21 is first unthreaded from rod 12and removed. Threaded end 37 of an extension rod 39 is then coupled tothreaded end 23 of rod 12 by a threaded coupling 45. Extension 24 whichis here formed with a reduced section 25 adapted for sliding insidetubular handle 11 is next locked into handle 11 by bringing a button 26mounted on a spring 27 in reduced section 25 of extension 2 inregistration with opening 28 positioned on handle 11. The procedure foradding an extension is completed by threading central part 22 of sleeve21 onto threaded end 43 of extension rod 39.

Jaws 6 and 7 may be adjusted to handle tubes of various sizes bychanging the effective length of link 19. Changing the etfeetive lengthof link 19 may be easily effected by providing a plurality of holes 29and 30 in link 19. Pin 31 is arranged for easy removal and may be usedto secure link 19 to arm 17 of the bell crank in either of the openings29 and 30.

The tube handling device of the present invention is preferablyconstructed to insulate the operator against electrical shock.Preferably both of the jaws 6 and 7 are insulated from the handle androd actuator. As here shown, a sleeve 32 of insulation material isinserted between the tubular upper end of the handle and the surroundingclamp portion of bracket 33 so as to insulate jaw 6 from the handle. law7 may be insulated from rod 12 by forming one or more sections of theleverage assembly 15 of insulation material. As here shown, the bellcrank is preferably made of pressed fiber insulation stock.

Jaws 6 and 7 are preferably arcuately formed from a light metal such asaluminum or magnesium and are lined with a resilient material 8 and 9,such as foam rubber for firmly gripping a lamp tube which may be anyelongated fiuorescent tube. Preferably also other parts of the deviceare made of light weight metal to contribute to the over-all ease ofhandling.

To remove a lamp tube 16 from a lighting fixture as shown in FIGURE 1,the operator pushes sleeve 21 toward the jaw end of the device to openthe jaws 6 and 7 in position for clasping bulb 10. The operator nextholds handle 24 in a fixed position and moves sleeve 21 in a directionaway from the jaws 6 and 7. Because of the unique locking action ofleverage assembly 15, the operator may remove his hand from sleeve 21and bulb 10 will remain firmly gripped by jaws 6 and 7.. To remove bulb10 from an electrical fixture, the operator either moves the handle inan arc in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of bulb 10,or moves the handle in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis oftube 10 depending upon the type of socket used in the electricalfixture. After the tube 10 is loosened from its socket in the fixturethe operator lowers the device and tube 10 hand over hand until hereaches the jaw end of extension 11. Tube 10 may now be released safelyfrom jaws 6 and 7 by moving arm 17 of bell crank 13 in a directiontoward the right as the device is shown in FIGURE 8 to break the overcenter position.

A new lamp tube 10 may then be inserted between the jaws and locked inplace by manually engaging the bell crank 13 and link 18 and moving theleverage assembly to its over-center locked up position. T hereupon thedevice may be elevated hand over hand to position the tube for insertioninto a lighting fixture.

We claim:

1. A lamp tube handling device comprising, a pair of pivotally attachedjaws and resilient lining means carried thereby arranged for pivotalclosed movement upon a lamp tube and pivotal opening movement therefrom,an elongated handle secured to one of said jaws, an elongated actuatingrod carried by said handle for longitu- 4 dinal reciprocation, aleverage assembly connecting said rod to the other jaw for pivotalopening and closing of said jaws upon respective reciprocation of saidrod to and from said jaws and composed of a bell crank having a midportion offset from said actuating rod axis and pivotally supported bysaid handle and a pair of arms, one of said arms being pivotallyattached to said rod, and a link pivotally connecting the other arm tosaid other jaw, said bell crank and link being constructed to move to anover center stopped position upon movement of said jaws to closedposition and being irreversible from closed position by opening forceapplied to the jaws but being reversible upon longitudinal displacementof said rod.

2. A lamp tube handling device comprising, a pair of pivotally attachedjaws and resilient lining means carried thereby arranged for pivotalclosed movement upon a lamp tube and pivotal opening movement therefrom,an elongated tubular handle secured at one end to one of said jaws, anelongated actuating rod mounted for longitudinal reciprocation withinsaid handle, a leverage assembly connecting the other end of said rod tothe other jaw for pivotal opening and closing of said jaws uponrespective reciprocation of said rod to and from said jaws and composedof a bell crank having a mid portion offset from said actuating rod axisand pivotally supported by said handle and a pair of arms, one of saidarms being pivotally attached to said rod, and a link pivotallyconnecting the other arm to said other jaw, said other arm extendinggenerally toward said jaws, said leverage assembly being constructed tomove to an over center stopped position upon movement of said jaws toclosed position and being irreversible from closed position by openingforce applied to the jaws but being reversible upon longitudinaldisplacement of said rod, and a sleeve mounted in surrounding relationto said handle for reciprocal movement adjacent its other end and havinga centrally extending part connected to the other end of said rod foreffecting manual reciprocation thereof.

3. A lamp tube handling device comprising, a pair of pivotally attachedjaws and resilient lining means carried thereby arranged for pivotalclosed movement upon a lamp tube and pivotal opening movement therefrom,an elongated handle secured to one of said jaws, an elongated actuatingrod carried by said handle for longitudinal reciprocation, a leverageassembly connecting said rod to the other jaw for pivotal opening andclosing of said jaws upon respective reciprocation of said rod to andfrom said jaws and composed of a bell crank having a mid portion offsetfrom said actuating rod axis and pivotally supported by said handle anda pair of arms, one of said arms being pivotally attached to said rod,and a link pivotally connecting the other arm to said other jaw, meansfor changing the effective length of said link for adapting said jaws tohandle tubes of various diameters, said bell crank and link beingconstructed to move to an over center stopped position upon movement ofsaid jaws to closed position and being irreversible from closed positionby opening force applied to the jaws but being reversible uponlongitudinal displacement of said rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS576,179 Wood Feb. 2, 1897 901,820 Nelson Oct. 20, 1908 1,021,790Newville Apr. 2, 1912 2,393,830 Beard Ian. 29, 1946 2,669,478 Bowie Feb.16, 1954 2,819,111 Cozzens Jan. 7, 1958 2,915,333 Koenig et al. Dec. 1,1959

1. A LAMP TUBE HANDLING DEVICE COMPRISING, A PAIR OF PIVOTALLY ATTACHEDJAWS AND RESILIENT LINING MEANS CARRIED THEREBY ARRANGED FOR PIVOTALCLOSED MOVEMENT UPON A LAMP TUBE AND PIVOTAL OPENING MOVEMENT THEREFROM,AN ELONGATED HANDLE SECURED TO ONE OF SAID JAWS, AN ELONGATED ACTUATINGROD CARRIED BY SAID HANDLE FOR LONGITUDINAL RECIPORCATION, A LEVERAGEASSEMBLY CONNECTING SAID ROD TO THE OTHER JAW FOR PIVOTAL OPENING ANDCLOSING OF SAID JAWS UPON RESPECTIVE RECIPROCATION OF SAID ROD TO ANDFROM SAID JAWS AND COMPOSED OF A BELL CRANK HAVING A MID PORTION OFFSETFROM SAID ACTUATING ROD AXIS AND PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY SAID HANDLE AN APAIR OF ARMS, ONE OF SAID ARMS BEING PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO SAID ROD, ANDA LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE OTHER ARM TO SAID OTHER JAW, SAID BELLCRANK AND LINK BEING CONSTRUCTED TO MOVE TO AN OVER CENTER STOPPEDPOSITION UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID JAWS TO CLOSED POSITION AND BEINGIRREVERSIBLE FROM CLOSED POSITION BY OPENING FORCE APPLIED TO THE JAWSBUT BEING REVERSIBLE UPON LONGITUDINAL DISPLACEMENT OF SAID ROD.